JURISPRUDENCE

TOPIC: NATURAL LAW

SUBMITTED BY
D. VENKAT KRISHNA REDDY
BALL.B(B) 5TH SEMESTER
INTODUCTION:

 The term natural law is derived from the belief that human morality comes from nature. Everything in nature has
a purpose, including humans. Our purpose, according to natural law theorists, is to live a good, happy life.
Therefore, actions that work against that purpose that is, actions that would prevent a fellow human from living
a good, happy life are considered unnatural or immoral

 Natural law is a philosophy of law that forces on the law of nature. This school of jurisprudence represents
the belief that they are inherent laws that is common to all societies.
 Natural law is also known as the moral law Divine law, the law of God, law of Reason, law of nature,
Universal law and unwritten law.
 The school of thought tells us that the law is rational and reasonable. Natural law proposes that laws are a
logical progression from morals. Therefore, actions that are considered to be morally wrong will be
against the law.
The sources of Natural law was that:
 God
 Nature
 Reasons
The classification of Natural law school:

 The classification of Natural law school in to four parts are:-

 (A) Ancient period/classical period
 (B) Medieval period/middle ages
 (C) Renaissance period
 (D) Modern period

The ancient period is further divided into two periods that are
1. Greek period & roman period
 According to Socrates Law is a product of correct reasoning. Human insight that a man has capacity
to distinguish between good and bad and is able to appreciate the moral values. This human insight
is the basis to judge the law.
  Plato (427-347 B.C)
 It is a supporter minimum governance policy means ultimate justice is discoverable through reason.
Plato also supports the Socrates theory of Natural law. According to Plato, we live in an orderly
universe.
  Aristotle (385-322 B.C)
 It believes that Natural law has elements of reason, justice and ethics mean that Universal and
immutable standards discoverable through reason and man-made law should conform to these
standards.
 Roman period
 The Natural law philosophy found on expression in the Roman legal system through the
division of Roman law into three distinct divisions jus civil, jus gentiam & jus natural
 Medieval period/Middle ages:
 It is a time of catholic philosophers or logicians of the Middle Ages gave a new theory of
‘Natural law’. Though they too gave it the logical basis.
 St. Thomas Aquinas gave four-fold classification of law’s namely;-
  Law of God or external law
 Law of nature (which revealed through nature)
 Human law (which we now called positive law)
 Law of divine or the law of scripture
Renaissance Period:
 It is revival of learning as scholar re-studying Greeks and Roman instead of relying on
scriptures, they looked at the purpose of human life itself to extract Natural law principles
CHARACTERSTICS OF NATURAL LAW

1. Natural law is a priori method as opposed to an empirical method. A priori method

accepts things or conclusions in relation to a subject as they are without any enquiry or
observation.
 2. Whereas an empirical or a posteriori approach tries to find out the cause and reason
relating to subject matter
 3. Natural law is a universal, that is to say, it applies to the entire human race, and is in
itself the same for all.
 4. It commands and forbids in the same tenor everywhere and always